Railway-brake apparatus.



No. 759,687. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. Q. J. FISHER. RAILWAY BRAKE APPARATUS.

APILIOATION FILED JAN. '7, 1904.

2 SHEETB-SBEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

M W! W No. 759,687. PATENTED MAY 10', 1904.

c. J. FISHER. I v RAILWAY BRAKE APPARATUS.

APPLIOA'I'ION IILBID JAN. 7, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Attorney QIA UNITED STATES Iat'ented May 10, 1904'.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J FISHER, OF MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FISHER SLACK ADJUSTER AND RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF MURPHYS- BORO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-BRAKE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,687, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed January 7, 1904:.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. Fisrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Murphysboro, in the county of Jackson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Brake Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to improvements in brake apparatus for railway-cars, and particularly to improvements in automatic slackadjusters for the same.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the slack due to the wear of the brake-shoes may be automatically taken up and by which the throw of the brake levers and rods will be automatically adjusted to compensate for the difference in distance caused by the application of new brake-shoes.

A further object is to provide means where-' by a quick release is given to the brake mech- 2 5 anism to cause the brake-shoes to be instantly disengaged and moved from the wheels when the applying force has been relieved.

Still another object is to provide a quick release and a slack-adjuster for braking appa o ratus, which will operate equally well whether the brake mechanism is actuated by hand or fluid-pressure power.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of 3 5 construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a portion of a railway-ear, showing the application of the invention to the braking mechanism of the same. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the brake-cylinder, push-rod, and the immediate connections, showing the parts in full release position. i Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 2, showing Serial No. 188,123. (No model.)

the position of said parts when the brakes are applied. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the outer end of the-push-rod 5 extension and the releasing devicegshowing the position of the parts when the push-bar is projected to apply the brakes. Fig. 5 is an end View of the push-rod extension, its supporting-bracket, and the means whereby said rod is controlled. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig.

7 is a detail view of the latch for holding the push-bar out. Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the T-shaped links or plates of the cyl 6o inder-lever.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the auxiliary reservoir, 2 the brake-cylinder, and 3 the cylinder-lever. These parts may be of any approvedconstruction.

4 denotes the piston, having riveted thereto a hollow piston-rod 5.

6 denotes the release-spring coiled around the hollow piston-rod between the piston and the cylinder-head.

7 denotes a sleeve or casing, in which is adapted to slide a push-bar 8, to which is pivoted the cylinder-lever 3. These pa t-ts are adapted to be forced outward upon' application of air to the cylinder. The pirsli-bar 8 is formed with an extension 9, whichis adapt ed to slide in and be guided by a bracket or hanger 25, fixed to the under side of the ear. The portion of the push-bar which enters the sleeve 7 is provided on its lower side with a row of beveled ratchet-teeth 12, and the open end of said sleeve is provided with a head 7, in which is pivoted a spring-actuated takeup pawl 11, which is adapted to engage the 5 ratchet-teeth 12. The sleeve 7 is alsoprovided near its inner end with a collar 13, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The extension 9 ofthe push-bar is formed of parallel, central, and side ribs or flanges 10 and 11', which are connected by webs 12, thereby forming channels or grooves 13'. On the upper edge of the central rib or flange 10 is formed a series of ratchet-teeth 14, which are adapted to be engaged by a latch 15, which Consists of a rectangular oblong plate 16, bent upwardly at its front and rear ends to form right-angularly-disposed plates or heads 17 and 18, which are provided with lateral extensions 19, forming supports which are adapted to engage and slide on the side ribs or flanges 11 of the push-bar extension 9.

The plate 16 of the latch is provided with a central longitudinally disposed slot 20, which communicates at its ends with recesses 21 and 22, formed in the plates or heads 17 and 18. When'the latch is in place, the central toothed rib or flange 10 of the pushbar extension projects into the slot 20 and recesses 21 and 22 of the latch, andthe teeth on said rib or flange are adapted to be engaged by the lower edge of the recess 21, which edge is beveled or inclined for this purpose. The sides of the plate 16, formed by the slot 20, lie in the channels or grooves 13 of the push-bar extension between the central and side flanges 10 and 11, and thereby prevent any lateral movement of the latch. On the lower face of said plate at the outer ends of the same are formed downwardly-projecting lugs 23, which prevent lateral slipping of the latch should the plate 16 be lifted higher than the flanges or ribs of the extension-bar.

The front plate or head 17 of the latch has formed therein a rectangularly-shaped opening 24, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The outer end of the push-bar extension is slidably supported in a bracket or. hanger 25,,

secured to the under side of the car. The lower end of the bracket is formed with a passage or guideway 26, through which the bar 9 is adapted to slide. The heads 17 and 18 of the latch are disposed on each side of the lower end of the bracket 25, the plate 16 of the latch connecting said heads passing through and sliding with the bar 9 in the passage 26 of the bracket, this sliding movement of the latch being limited by the engagement of the heads 17 and 18 with the ends of the bracket.

In order that the head 17 of the latch may be engaged with and disengaged from the teeth on the bar 9, a suitable tripping mechanism is provided consisting of a bell-crank lever 27, pivotally mounted between ears 28, formed on the upper wall of the passage 26. The upwardly-projecting arm of the bell-crank lever has pivotally connected thereto the end of a releasing-rod 29 and also has pivotally connected thereto aguide-pin 30, which works through an aperture in a guide-post 31, which projects upwardly from the upper wall of the passage 26. On the pin 30 between the guidepost and the upper arm of the bell-crank le- Ver is arranged a coiled spring 32, the tension of which is exerted to rock said lever forwardly. The forwardly-projecting arm of the lever 27 is adapted to engage in the opening 24 and when said lever is rocked rearwardly by the releasing-rod 29 will raise the latch and release the same from engagement with the teeth on the extension-bar 9. soon as the releasing-rod 29 is freed the spring 32 will rock the bell-crank lever forwardly, causing the forwardly-projecting arm of the same to tilt downwardly, thus permitting the latch to again drop down in position to engage the teeth on the extension-bar 9.

On each side of the forwardly-projecting arm of the bell-crank lever 'are formed laterally and downwardly projecting lugs 34, which are adapted to project through recesses in the upper wall of the passage 26 when the bellcrank lever is rocked forwardly. On the rear or opposite side of the bellcrank lever is formed a rearwardly and downwardly projecting arm 35, which is adapted to engage the upper wall of the passage 26.

When the push-bar is projected to apply the brakes, the latch 15 will be in engagement with and will be carried forward by the extension of the bar until the head 18 of the same engages the bracket 25, as shown in Fig. 4, which stops the further movement of the latch, but permits the push-bar and its extension to move on, the latch playing loosely over the teeth on said extension. The bellcrank lever being at this time in an inclined position, the lugs 34 on the same will be but a slight distance above the side bars of the latch, so that should the car receive a sudden jar the latch will be prevented by said lugs from becoming disengaged from the teeth of the push-bar extension and thereby releasing the push-bar at an improper time. As soon as the air in the brake-cylinder is released the push-bar will be retracted until the head 17 of the latch engages the other side of the bracket, which will lock the bar against further in ward movement until the bell-crank lever is rocked by the releasing-rod to disengage the latch from the teeth of the extension, as hereinbefore described.

The downwardly-projecting arm 35 on the bell-crank lever is adapted to engage the upper wall of the-passage 26 to limit the rearward movement of said lever by the releasing-rod 29.

The inner end of the releasing-rod 29 is slidably mounted in a bracket 36, secured to the forward end of the brake-cylinder, and on said rod 29 is adjustably secured a disk or collar 37.

On the outer end of the hollow piston-rod 5 is secured an annular flange 38, which when the air is released from the cylinder 2 will be forced inwardly with the piston 4 and the rod 5 by the piston-spring 6 and will engage the collar 37 on the release-rod 29 and move said rod, which will rock the bell-crank lever 27, causing the same to disengage the latch 15 from engagement with the teeth on the pushbar extension 9, thereby releasing the same.

On the end of the push-bar 8 and between the same and the extension 9 is formed a head or enlargement 40, in which is formed a horizontally-disposed opening or slot &1, in which is pivotally mounted on a pin 42 a pair of horizontally-disposed T-shaped plates or links 43. On the pivoted end of the upper plate or link is formed an inwardly-projecting lug 44:, which engages the lower plate or link and spaces said plates apart. On the free end of the lower plate are formed two downwardlyprojecting lugs 45, which are adapted to engage the sides of the enlargement or head and limit the swinging movement of said plate. In the links or plates 43 are formed alined slots 46, which are wider at the ends nearer the pivoted end of the plates than at the free end, as shown.

Between the plates is arranged the end of the cylinder-lever 3, which is provided with a pivot-pin 4:7, adapted to engage the slots 46, thereby forming a sliding pivotal connection between the cylinder-lever 3 and the pushbar. This sliding connection between the lever and the push-bar permits a perfect adjustment of the parts when the brakes are applied by hand-power through the hand-brake rod 48, which is pivotally connected to the outer end of the cylinder-lever.

The hollow piston-rod 5 is provided with an inwardly-projecting piston travel pin or lug 5, which is adapted to engage the collar 13 when the piston is forced inwardly by the release-spring and to carry the sleeve 7 along with the piston, the pivoted pawl 11 sliding loosely over the teeth 12 of the push-bar until the piston is all the way in, at which time the flange 38 on the piston-rod will strike the collar 37 on the release-rod 29 and will cause said rod to release the retaining-latch 15 from engagement with the teeth on the extension of the push-bar and allow said bar to move back with its casing to the position formerly occupied by said casing within the hollow piston-rod.

The elongated construction of the latch 15 will permit the parts of the braking mechanism to recede a suflicient distance to relieve the brake-shoes of the intense pressure which through the connecting-rods and cylinder is thrown onto the push-bar, so that the flange on the piston-rod may actuate the release-rod to trip the latch 15; otherwise the pressure from the brake-shoes on the push-bar and its extension would cause the teeth on said eX- tension to bind against the latch so tightly as to prevent the movement of the releasing-rod by the cylinder-spring to disengage said latch from the teeth on the push-rod extension.

The retaining-latch is intended for use on brakes equipped with quick-release springs, which cause the push-bar to return so fast that the take-up pawl 11 cannot gain time enough to take up slack; but by the use of the retaining-pawl the push-bar is held until the piston returns and takes up slack.

In order that the braking mechanism may be caused to move quickly as soon as the brake-applying power has been removed, one or more quick-releasing springs are applied to the braking mechanism to act in conjunction with the cylinder-spring to retract the push-bar and the parts controlled thereby.

The quick-releasing spring or springs may be of any suitable variety and may be applied at any suitable point or points in the brake mechanism. In the present instance a coiled spring 50 is connected at one end to the cylinder-lever adjacent to its pivotal connection with the push-bar. The opposite end of the spring may be secured to a beam or other fixed part of the car.

It will be understood that my device is equally applicable to hand-brake mechanism, as in all cars and tenders having hand-brake rods connected to the cylinder-lever next to the push-bar it is impossible to apply handbrakes without taking up all slack just as perfectly as by air application.

In operation when air is admitted to the brake-cylinder the piston will force the pushrod casing and the push-rod outwardly until the brakc-shoes are firmly applied. hen the air in the cylinder is discharged, the piston will be forced back by the release-swing, while the push-rod and its casing will be held stationary, either by the retaining-pawl as used in connection with quick-release springs or by the friction of the rod and levers when using ordinary braking equipment until the piston recedes far enough for the pin on the.

piston-rod to engage the collar on the pnsln rod casing, when the said casing will be carried back by the said pin, the take-up pawl playing loosely over the teeth of said pushbar until the piston is clear back, at which position all the slack will have been taken up.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a braking mechanism, the combination with a braking-cylinder, of a piston adapted to reciprocate therein, a hollow piston-rod secured to said piston, a piston-spring adapted to retract said piston and hollow piston-rod, a push-rod casing or sleeve, slidabl y mounted in said pistonrod, means whereby said push-rod casing is actuated by said hollow piston-rod, a push-rod adapted to slide within said pushrod casing, means carried by said push-rod casing for actuating and taking up the slack in said push-rod, and means other than said piston-spring for eii'ecting a quick retraction of said push-rod, substantially as described.

2. 1n abrakingmechanism, the combination with a braking-cylinder, of a piston adapted IIO to reciprocate therein, a hollow piston-rod secured to said piston, a piston-spring adapted to retract said piston and hollow piston-rod, a push-rod casing or sleeve, slidably mounted in said piston-rod, means whereby said push-rod casing is actuated by said hollow piston-rod, a push-rod adapted to slide within said pushrod casing, means for projecting said pushr'od, a cylinder-lever, means carried by said push-rod for pivotally and slidingly connect ing said cylinder-lever with'said push-rod, means applied to said lever to cause a quick retraction of the same and said push-bar, retaining mechanism for holding said push-bar against retraction and means for releasing said holding mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a braking mechanism, the combination with a push-bar, of a cylinder-lever pivotally and slidably connected to said push-bar, means for projecting said bar to apply the brakes, and means for quickly retracting thesame to release the brakes immediately upon the removal of said applying force, substantially as described.

4. In a braking mechanism, the combination with a push-bar, of a cylinder-lever pivotally and slidably connected to said push-bar, means for projecting said bar to apply the brakes, a spring applied to said cylinder-lever to quickly -retract the same and release said brakes immediately upon the removal of said applying force, substantially as described.

5. In a braking mechanism, the combination with a braking-cylinder, of a piston adapted to reciprocate therein, a hollow piston-rod secured to said piston, a piston-spring adapted to retract said piston and hollow piston-rod, a push-rod casing or sleeve, slidably mounted in said pistonr0d, means whereby said push-rod casing is actuated by said hollow piston-rod, a push-rod adapted to slide within said pushrod casing, means for projecting said pushrod, and means for taking up the slack in the same, a cylinder-lever, means whereby said lever is pivotally and slidably connected to said push-rod, a spring or springs applied to said cylinder-lever to quickly retract the same and said push-rod, a toothed extension formed on said push-rod and slidably supported in a guide-bracket or hanger, a latch loosely mounted on said extension and held in place by said.

bracket, means whereby said latch is released from engagement with said toothed extension, substantially as described.

6. In a braking mechanism, the combination with a braking-cylinder, of a piston carrying a hollow piston-rod, a sleeve'or push-rod casing adapted to slide within said hollow piston, a pin fixed to said hollow pistonrod and adapted to engage a collar on said push-rod casing to actuate the same, a push-rod pivotally connected to the cylinder-lever of an air-braking mechanism and provided with a series of ratchet-teeth and being adapted to slide within said push-rod casing, a take-up pawl carried by said push-rod casing and adapted-to engage the teeth on said push-rodto actuate the same, a toothed extension carriedwby said push-bar and adapted to slide in a guide bracket or hanger, a retaining-latch adapted to engage said toothed extension, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted in said bracket, one arm of which is adapted to engage said latch, a releasing-rod connected to the other arm of said bell-crank lever to rock the said lever and disengage said latch from the teeth on said push-rod extension, a collar adjustably secured on said releasing-rod, an annular flange fixed on the outer end of said hollow pistonrod, and adapted to engage the collar on said releasing-rod to cause said rod to rocksaid bell-crank lever and disengage said latch from said extension-bar, and means whereby said bell-crank lever is disengaged from said latch to permit the same to engage the teeth on said extension, substantiallyas described.

7. In a braking mechanism, the combination with a braking-cylinder, of a piston carrying a hollow piston-rod, a sleeve or push-rod casing adapted to slide within said hollow piston, a pin fixed to said hollow piston-rod and adapted to engage a collar on said push-rod casing to actuate the same, a push-rod pivotally connected to the cylinder-lever of an airbraking mechanism and provided with a series of ratchet-teeth and being adapted to slide within said push-rod casing, a take-up pawl carried by said push-rod casing and adapted to engage the teeth on said push-rod to actuate the same, a toothed extension carried by said push-bar and adapted to slide in a guidebracket or hanger, a retaining-latch adapted to engage said toothed extension, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted in said bracket, one arm of which is adapted to engage said latch, a releasing-rod connected to the other arm of said bell-crank lever to rock the said, lever and disengage said latch from the teeth on said push-rod extension, a collar adjustably secured on said releasing-rod, an annular flange fixed on the outer end of said hollow pistonrod, and adapted to engage the collar on said releasing-rod to cause said rod to rock said bell-crank lever and disengage said latch from said extension-bar, means carried by said bellcrank lever to prevent the casual disengagement of said latch from the teeth on said pushbar extension, and means for limiting the rearward movement of said bell-crank lever by said releasing-rod, substantially as described.

8. In a braking mechanism the combination with a braking cylinder and piston, means to apply a braking stroke to the latter and means to apply a brake-releasing stroke thereto, of an element movable longitudinally with the piston during the braking stroke of the latter, the piston being movable independently of said element to some extent, during the releasing stroke, a push-rod movable with the said element during the braking stroke, said element being movable independently of said push-rod during the reverse stroke, a coinpensating connection between said push-rod and said element, and means, independent of the piston-reversing means, to effect a quick retraction of the pusli-rod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit" IO nesses.

CHARLES J. FISHER.

Witnesses: f

O. E. HUNT, BENJ. (Jr. UoWL. 

